The document discusses the transition from documents to datasets to linked data in how governments make public sector information available. It describes how information has shifted from being locked in documents, to being available as datasets in various formats through data catalogs, to the emerging approach of linked open government data which will be interlinked and put in context. The document outlines European Commission actions to support this transition and increase access to public sector information through initiatives like the LOD2 and LATC projects and the SEMIC registry. It argues that linked data seems to cover business requirements and there is momentum growing around the approach.

1. Vassilios Peristeras [email_address] From Open to Linked Government Data

2. Interoperability Solutions for European Public Administrations Informatics Directorate-General, Interoperability Solutions for European Public Administrations (ISA) ISA Actions (part of the 2010-2015 Work Programme) Common frameworks in support of interoperability (policies, strategies, specifications, methodologies, guidelines) European Interoperability Framework European Interoperability Strategy European Interoperability Architecture National Interoperability Frameworks Observatory Access to Base Registers Semantic Interoperability Center Europe - SEMIC

3. Why Government Data (aka Public Sector Information) Governments: producers, collectors, owners of huge amount of information Access to Government Data promotes transparency improves administrative efficiency stimulates economic growth Historically, problematic access for several reasons Can “Linked Data in the Future Internet” facilitate our access to public sector information and data?

4. Accessing public sector information The story so far… Documents Datasets Linked Data

5. The era of Documents Documents

6. The era of Documents Public Sector Information has been… … “ locked” in documents … available through physical access, or via the web … technically accessible through static web pages following an e-document paradigm Documents

7. The era of Documents Accessibility Discoverability Cross-referencing Handling Costs

8. The era of Documents Re-use of Public Sector Information Directive : the way public sector bodies should enhance re-use of their information resources (2003/98/EC, 17/11/2003). Member States to implement the Directive into national law by 1/7/2005 In 2008, all 27 Member States notified complete transposition of the PSI Directive.

9. The era of Datasets (aka Open Data) Datasets

10. The era of Datasets (aka Open Data) Public Data is… … available as raw datasets in various (un-)structured, (non-) proprietary formats (e.g. pdf, text, xls, csv, xml) … which become available through Data Catalogs … which provide easy access and portal-like functionalities Datasets

11. The era of Datasets (aka Open Data) Open Government Data Over 10 countries with data portals At least 13 countries are currently discussing or already working on Open Data portals in EU Numerous initiatives at regional/local level Over 300K (!!) datasets in data.gov Data Catalog Datasets …

12. The era of Datasets (aka Open Data) Accessibility +++ Discoverability + Cross-referencing - Handling +++ Costs +++ Datasets Management Systems Data catalog federation

13. The era of linked data (?) Linked Data

14. The era of linked data (?) Linked Open Government Data will be… … interlinked internally and externally, cross-referenced and put in context … available for federated search and querying … technically accessible through a web of data Linked Data

15. The era of linked data (?) Accessibility Discoverability Cross-referencing Handling Costs Linked Data Publishing Linked Data Querying/Browsing Vocabulary Management Systems URI Management Systems

16. European Commission actions I European Public Sector Information (PSI) Platform , to raise awareness and exchange good practices. More planned activities under CIP are foreseen. LOD2-FP7 project to increase public access to high-value, machine-readable data sets generated by European, national/regional/local public administrations. The Linked Open Data Around the Clock (LATC) FP7 Support Action supports interested partners to publish and consume Linked Data.

17. European Commission actions II Digital Agenda Stakeholders’ Day: “ Priority #3: Beyond raw data: public sector information, done well ” . A discussion on what is next in Open Data Provide Semantic Interoperability Center Europe (SEMIC) as a possible trusted registry infrastructure for vocabulary, metadata schemas and EU URI management (semantic assets) Investigate ways of improving access to EC information

18. Conclusion 1990 2000 2010 2020 Public Sector Information Open Government Data Linked Government Data documents datasets data cloud Can “Linked Data in the Future Internet” facilitate our access to public sector information and data? a) We need to advance from the dataset paradigm, b) LOD seem to cover our business requirements, c) There is a growing momentum around LOD

19. References http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/psi, PSI Directive http://www.epsiplus.net/, EPSI platform http://lod2.eu/Welcome.html, LOD2 project http://latc-project.eu/, LATC project http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/getinvolved/index_en.htm, Digital Agenda Stakeholders Priorities http://www.semic.eu/semic/, SEMIC platform http://linkeddata.org/, The Linking Open Data cloud diagram

20. Vassilios Peristeras [email_address] From Open to Linked Government Data